2011 - Umwelt Arena

The Umwelt Arena in Spreitenbach (AG) is an experimental expositive centre, entirely focu-sed on environmental issues and sustainability and it is the first Swiss competence ecology centre with the widest integrated PV plant. Building components have different functions. The concrete structure, besides to work as bearing system, is a thermal accumulation and a finishing system. The coverage, realized by prefabricated wooden sandwich elements and good thermal insulation, produces a relevant quantity of energy, twice of energy demand. The roof, with modern architectonic design arranged like the scales of a reptile, has an oc-tagonal plant with 33 different surfaces, differently oriented, and with a slope from 6° to 62°. Almost stretches down to the ground, in the manner of a dome, is completely covered with PV modules. Other energy production systems are thermal solar panels and a kompogas process of food waste. The building, with 203% of energy production, CO2 null balance, is a great example in which architecture, aestetic and ecology are perfectly merged.